When Jesus Shapes Our Friendships

May 1, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH When Jesus Shapes Our Friendships SCOTTY SMITH A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. Prov. 17:17 Two are better than one…  If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. Eccl. 4:9-10 Lord Jesus, the past few weeks have freshly fueled my gratitude for the friends you’ve woven into my heart and story. Though as an introvert I need alone time to replenish, the thought of growing older without close heart-friends has never been scarier. Thank you for friends who make me laugh, play, wonder, and explore. But I’m also grateful they love me in adversity, and when I’ve fallen down—those times when withdrawing into shame, self-sufficiency, and poor choices is just way too easy. None of us need “friends” like Job had—those more likely to give correction than affection, or more “verses” than grace. If we need formulas and fixes, we can “YouTube” or “Google that.” It’s a gift to have friends whose own posing and pretending have been crushed under the weight of life’s stressors and liberating grace. Lord Jesus, thank you for being a Savior of sinners and a friend of sinners. We would despair if that was not so. May your love, grace, and kindness shape all our friendships, and all our “friend-ing.” So very Amen we pray, in your tender and triumphant name.   Wish you had roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! About Us    |     Council    |     Donate ©2020 The Gospel Coalition, All Rights Reserved. P.O. Box 170346 — Austin, TX 78717 Update Email  |  Unsubscribe

God Never Says, “Lord Willing”

April 30, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH God Never Says, "Lord Willing" SCOTTY SMITH And this is the plan: At the right time, he (God) will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. Eph. 1:10 (NLT) Heavenly Father, sometimes we get so busy with our plans, we forget you are the perfect planner, and “get-it-done-er.” Unlike us, you don’t have to make plans and then say, “Lord willing.” For you are the Lord who only plans things that you will make happen. Hallelujah, a gazillion times over! Like an indelible tattoo on our hearts, make this one verse from the Apostle Paul our GPS setting, present peace, and joy-fuel. You have set a Day when everything will be united, peaceful, and complete in Jesus. May that Day impact the rest of our days, until Jesus returns. What a blessed Day that will be… Wiped tears, redeemed pain, and healed everything No more worries, fears, regrets, hurting, or hurting others The Great Commission will forever be the Great Accomplishment The earth will be filled with your glory, your redeemed family, and all things new Bring. It. On. Father. Until then, renew and deepen our love for Jesus. Help us grow in gentleness, humility, and kindness. What a beloved, cared-for, hope-secured people we are. Thank you, Father… so very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ loving and powerful name. Wish you had roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! About Us    |     Council    |     Donate ©2020 The Gospel Coalition, All Rights Reserved. P.O. Box 170346 — Austin, TX 78717 Update Email  |  Unsubscribe

Decision-Wisdom and Heart-Trust

April 29, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Decision-Wisdom and Heart-Trust SCOTTY SMITH Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Prov. 3:5-6 Heavenly Father, some decisions we make are 100% personal preference, others merely require “sanctified common sense.” But then there are the life-choices in front of us that tie us in knots, rob us of sleep, and fuel our fears. Thank you for your promise to “determine our steps” (Prov. 16:9). That doesn’t make us fatalistic robots, but your beloved children. Indeed, life isn’t primarily about making the right decisions, but trusting the right God, and that is you. Heart-trusting, and honoring you… these must take precedent over leaning on the wobbly scaffolding and limitations of our own understanding. You promise “straight paths,” because we’re going somewhere, not just deciding between doors A, B, and C. Slow us down to be wise, Father. Speak to us through our most Gospel-sane friends. The best decisions won’t necessarily be pain free, but they will never be grace absent. Help us seek your Son more than we look for signs. Center us, settle us. Keep us in the Gospel-lane, as you take us further down your promised straight paths. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ merciful and mighty name. Wish you had roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! About Us    |     Council    |     Donate ©2020 The Gospel Coalition, All Rights Reserved. P.O. Box 170346 — Austin, TX 78717 Update Email  |  Unsubscribe

God’s Work: For, In, Through Us

April 28, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH God's Work: For, In, Through Us SCOTTY SMITH “It is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (Phil. 2:13) “By the grace of God, I am what I am.” (1 Cor. 15:10) “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.” (Psalm 138:8) Heavenly Father, it feels so good to live without concern for merit or deserving, personal failure or self-aggrandizement. The Gospel has “nuked” every notion of spiritual wage-earning, performancism, and stressing over what you think about us. Your currency is grace, and your delivery system is our neediness. Jesus’ cross-work on our behalf is finished. The Spirit’s transforming-work in us continues—as we walk, and as we sleep. This doesn’t make us passive, just actively dependent on you, and the means of grace. Because we can say with David, you will “fulfill your purpose for me,” and because we are certain your “steadfast love will endure forever,” may the rest of our days be marked by… Faith expressing itself in love. Hope expressing itself in mission. Grace expressing itself in kindness. Peace expressing itself in peace-making. Humility expressing itself in repentance and service. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ bodacious and beautiful name. Wish you had roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! About Us    |     Council    |     Donate ©2020 The Gospel Coalition, All Rights Reserved. P.O. Box 170346 — Austin, TX 78717 Update Email  |  Unsubscribe

Completely, Not Partially, Saved

April 27, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Completely, Not Partially, Saved SCOTTY SMITH “Because Jesus lives forever… he is able to completely save those who come to God through him.” Heb. 7:24 Dear Lord Jesus, this Scripture is like a 72-degree, no-humidity, cloudless, deep blue-sky day. It is perfect. Not partial, but complete salvation is freely ours by you, in you—all for your glory.   Because of your finished work, your banner over us is love, your desire for us is constant, and your delight in us is great. We are guilt-gone, judgment-free, and righteousness-robed. We have citizenship in heaven, and heirship of the new heaven and new earth. Who can measure such a spectacular standing in grace? Because of your constant intercession, we have 24/365 advocacy with our heavenly Father. Satan’s attacks are constant, but they are no match for your daily mercies and cosmos-transforming might. Your active, passionate, always-will-be-answered prayers are one of the greatest expressions of the riches of grace.   Because of your always-near return, we live with peace, hope and anticipation. Our Father will complete the good work of salvation in us (Phi. 1:6). For, from beginning to end, it is all of grace. One Day we will be as lovely as you, and as loving (1 John 3:1-3)—as hard as that is to imagine. Nothing can delay, derail or deter our Father’s joyful resolve to make all things new through you—including us. Whew! So very Amen we pray, in your righteous and reigning name. Wish you had roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! About Us    |     Council    |     Donate ©2020 The Gospel Coalition, All Rights Reserved. P.O. Box 170346 — Austin, TX 78717 Update Email  |  Unsubscribe

“All Mine. Trust Me”

April 26, 2021 Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH "All Mine. Trust Me" SCOTTY SMITH May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13    Heavenly Father, what a great verse for focusing and fueling our hearts this April Monday. As “the God of hope,” we’ll gladly take all the joy and peace you’ll fill us with, even to the point of over-the-rim spillage on others. We wouldn’t mind leaving little puddles of joy and peace as we walk this week. The joy of knowing you love us just as much as you love Jesus, for you’ve clothed us in his righteousness and adopted us as your kids. The joy of living with no condemnation for our sins, and with full irrevocable citizenship in heaven. The joy of realizing we don’t have to pose and pretend our way through life. We can leave being awesome to Jesus Then there’s your no-contingencies peace, you give us, Father. The peace that comes with your promise that things aren’t just going to “work out,” or be “okay,” but that they’ll turn out “beyond all we can ask or imagine.” The peace of knowing you are sovereign over our follicles, foibles, and final breath. The international playground of politics, the next global health crisis, the actual date and Day your glory will fill the earth… about these things you say to us, “All Mine. Trust me. Love your neighbors.” Thank you, Father. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ triumphant and tender name. Wish you had roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! About Us    |     Council    |     Donate ©2020 The Gospel Coalition, All Rights Reserved. P.O. Box 170346 — Austin, TX 78717 Update Email  |  Unsubscribe